BILL NUMBER: AB 1651	CHAPTERED  09/19/00

	CHAPTER   499
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 19, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 17, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 30, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 28, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MARCH 20, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MARCH 8, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JANUARY 13, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Committee on Veterans Affairs (Dutra (Chair),
Dickerson (Vice Chair), Correa, Havice, Nakano, and Wayne)
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Alquist, Ashburn, Bates, Bock,
Calderon, Campbell, Cox, Cunneen, Davis, Ducheny, Jackson, Keeley,
Knox, Kuehl, Longville, Machado, Mazzoni, Robert Pacheco, Romero,
Scott, Strickland, Strom-Martin, and Zettel)
   (Coauthors:  Senators Johannessen, Karnette, Leslie, Monteith,
Rainey, and Solis)

                        MARCH 8, 1999

   An act to amend Section 5011.5 of the Public Resources Code,
relating to parks and recreation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1651, Committee on Veterans Affairs.  Parks and recreation:
disabled veterans: pass program.
   Existing law requires the Department of Parks and Recreation to
issue to a veteran, as defined, who is a resident of this state, a
pass entitling the bearer to the use of all facilities in units of
the state park system, upon application therefor, presentation of
proof of disability or being held prisoner of war, and of honorable
discharge from service, upon the payment of a $3.50 fee.  Existing
law provides that, for purposes of those provisions, "veteran" means
any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has a 70% or
greater service-connected disability or a service-connected
disability rated at 100% for reasons of unemployability, or who was
held as a prisoner of war by forces hostile to the United States, as
certified by the Veterans' Administration, and who was honorably
discharged from service.
   This bill would revise the definition of "veteran," for purposes
of those provisions, to mean any former member of the Armed Forces
who has a 50% or greater service-connected disability, or who was
held captive as a prisoner of war by forces hostile to the United
States, as certified by the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs, and who was honorably discharged from service.
   The bill would require the Department of Parks and Recreation to
report, in writing, to the chairpersons of prescribed legislative
committees regarding the frequency of the use of these passes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 5011.5 of the Public Resources Code is amended
to read:
   5011.5.  (a) A veteran of any war in which the United States has
been, or may be engaged, who is a resident of this state, upon
presentation to the department of proof of disability or proof of
being held captive as a prisoner of war and of an honorable discharge
from service, upon application therefor and payment of three dollars
and fifty cents ($3.50), shall be issued a pass entitling the bearer
to the use of all facilities, including boat launching facilities,
in units of the state park system.
   (b) As used in this section:
   (1) "Veteran" means any former member of the Armed Forces of the
United States who has a 50 percent or greater service-connected
disability, or who was held as a prisoner of war by forces hostile to
the United States, as certified by the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs, and who was honorably discharged from service.
   (2) "War" means that period of time commencing when Congress
declares war or when the Armed Forces of the United States are
engaged in active military operations against any foreign power,
whether or not war has been formally declared, and ending upon the
termination of hostilities as proclaimed by the President of the
United States.
  SEC. 2.  On or before January 1, 2004, the Department of Parks and
Recreation shall report, in writing, to the chairpersons of the
legislative fiscal committees and the chairpersons of the appropriate
legislative policy committees its findings regarding the frequency
of the use of the passes issued pursuant to Section 5011.5 of the
Public Resources Code.
